Finally—it’s vacation time. You’re thrilled to be OOO and flying to a dream destination, but that feeling is quickly stamped out by takeoff, knowing the inevitable cranial pressure and ear pops that await you. When you were younger, your parents may have told you to chew gum on flights and you obliged, always withholding the question: “Why?” Let us give you the long-awaited answer.
Meet the Experts: Hamid Djalilian, M.D., an ear specialist and professor of otolaryngology, neurosurgery, and biomedical engineering at University of California and Kara Wada, M.D., a board-certified allergist and immunologist based in Ohio.
Below, experts explain what exactly happens within the ear to prompt that weird fullness and subsequent release, plus how to unclog your ears if they won’t pop. Like most odd bodily phenomenons, this one serves a small but significant purpose.
What is ear popping?
The ear popping sound that you hear during a plane’s ascension is actually the sound of two soft, slightly sticky surfaces pulling apart, explains Hamid Djalilian, M.D., an ear specialist and professor of otolaryngology, neurosurgery, and biomedical engineering at University of California. They’re the walls of your ear’s eustachian tube, which is the “mucosa-lined passage between your middle ear to the back of your nose,” he adds, that, normally stays closed but “needs to open periodically to balance the pressure between the middle ear and the outside environment.”
However, the tube needs to open periodically to balance the pressure between the middle ear and the outside environment. “When your plane takes off, the pressure in the cabin drops fast, but the air in your middle ear is still at ground-level pressure,” explains Kara Wada, M.D., a board-certified allergist and immunologist based in Ohio. The eustachian tube opens to establish a pressure equilibrium, and when it does, you hear and feel a pop.
If the tube can’t open properly, pressure builds up behind the eardrum, which can cause a clogged or full sensation, muffled hearing, or even pain, says Dr. Djalilian. “In more severe cases, fluid can collect behind the eardrum, making the pressure worse and can sometimes lead to infection,” he adds.
“After your ears pop, you’ll typically notice a slight improvement in your hearing,” says Dr. Djalilian. “That’s because the tiny bones of hearing work best when there’s equal pressure on both sides of the eardrum. When pressure builds up, eardrum movement is restricted. Post-pop, it’s freed up again.”
Ear popping causes
Altitude changes are the popular perpetrator of popping, but other, more common cases can be caused by a cold, sinus infection, or allergies. Their inflammatory nature makes it harder for the eustachian tube to open, Dr. Djalilian explains. “The tube is lined with the same mucosal tissue as your nose,” she says. “So, if your nose is stuffed up, chances are the eustachian tube surfaces are swollen, too.”
Dr. Wada paints a picture of the eustachian tube as a tiny, flexible straw. “When you’re healthy, it opens and closes easily,” she explains. “But when you have a cold or allergies, everything gets swollen, and that straw gets pinched shut. Now pressure is trapped, and it hurts.”
It’s also possible for your ears to pop any time you swallow, yawn, or chew, says Dr. Djalilian. “That’s because the muscles in your jaw and throat are connected to the walls of the eustachian tube, and moving your jaw or swallowing helps the tube open, leading to the popping sound,” he concludes.
How to relieve pressure or pain related to ear popping
If discomfort is caused by altitude changes, simple things like swallowing, chewing gum, or yawning can help. You can also try the Valsalva maneuver where you pinch your nose, close your mouth, and gently blow to form puffed cheeks, Dr. Djalilian explains, “but it needs to be done carefully,” as blowing too hard can damage the eardrum or cause light-headedness.
Dr. Wada adds that if you feel clogged due to allergies, a nasal decongestant spray, like Afrin, may help. “Just don’t make it a daily habit—seriously, because it can be addicting if used more than three to five days in a row,” she adds.
When to see a doctor about ear popping
If you notice pain, dizziness, ringing in the ears, or noticeable hearing loss, it’s time to get checked out, our experts say. Fluid build-up can cause middle ear infection or, in advanced cases, the eardrum can retract and deform, which may require surgery to correct, says Dr. Djalilian.
Ear fullness can also be a sign of atypical migraines, and may not be related to your ear health at all, “especially if it’s accompanied by dizziness or tinnitus,” he adds. If you’re unsure about the root of your symptoms, it’s best to take them to your doctor.
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